The story claimed there were substantial grounds to suspect that due to his track record of dishonesty, lack of integrity, and history of dissolved companies, he might dishonestly enrich himself by exploiting Susan Boyle, he says.

Kilkenny, a retired accountant on the board of directors of the Special Olympics, says the story, which appeared in March, was defamatory.

Now he is demanding unlimited damages of more than £300,000, and an injunction banning the repetition of the allegations at the centre of his claim.

The story was accompanied by a photo of him captioned ‘Battling: Ossie Kilkenny (left) represents Susan, but some mistrust him”.

Dublin-based Kilkenny says the story seriously injured his personal and professional reputation, and left him distressed and embarrassed.

The story remained on the Daily Mail’s website until the day after his solicitors complained, he says.

He has instructed Nicholas Armstrong of Charles Russell to bring his claim against the publishers.